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Friday, May 31, 2013

OK~ Life has sure been crazy here this week. The week began with our youngest son's high school graduation party. It continued with him starting a summer job the next morning. He was officially done with high school last Friday. Friday of this week is the Iowa State High School Trapshooting Meet, another busy day! The week will round out with commencement on Sunday afternoon. Wow~ and let me tell you about everything else that has happened!

We have had rain, lots of rain. Flooded roadways and lots of mud. Remember that graduation party I told you we had last Monday? Well, I am ever so grateful that we did not opt to have that at our house. Our yard was and continues to be a mud hole. Cars would have had to park on the road, not in our yard. It's not all mud, as our lilacs have bloomed well.

Now, there is a downfall to not having your son or daughter's high school graduation party at your house. You are not forced to clean in those places you only clean when company comes. Well, we kind of missed the annual clean out the garage event last year- BUT, we made it happen anyway. The day after the party, we spent 4 1/2 hours cleaning it out. And, I am happy to report it looks pretty darn good.

Our older son purchased a different car. And me being the Mom that worries all the time, kind of overstepped her bounds when he drove it home. I panicked when I found out he drove the car without any license plates on it. Well, that's how it works when you purchase a car out of state. He drove the car back to his home and the car has license plates on in it, less than 12 hours after I panicked. Lesson learned, let the 22 year old solve his own problems and do not create new ones for him.

Life is good here in Iowa. June promises (fingers crossed) to be much drier than May. There are still many acres of corn and soybeans that need to be planted. I'm really not sure how all of that is going to work out. Mother Nature can chill out anytime now. The Iowa high school trapshooting season is coming to a close so she can also take a little snooze. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

Thursday, May 30, 2013

OK~ Many of my friends are rockin' it when it comes to their blogs and businesses. So, I decided to throw a party!

Yep, we are gonna celebrate on Twitter on Thursday, June 6th at 9 P.M. (CST). We are gonna chat about the good things that are happening! There's a lot of fun things going on as we move into Summer. I thought this would be a fun way to showcase the awesomeness that so many of my friends in the social media world have going on.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

About Krafty Max Originals:
For over 35 years, Marci (owner/designer) sat and watched her mother make items for the family on holidays. By the time Marci was 5 years old, she was already stranding beads for her own creations. Over the years, she perfected her techniques and styles.

After 4 years in the US Navy and 15 years in "Corporate America" doing everything from running her own Marketing Company to running a Sports Talk Radio Station, Marci has seen it all. After the birth of her son, Monster, her husband had decided that she would be a "stay at home mom" in order to spend more time with AYE (now 13) and Monster (now 8). Suddenly Marci felt like she had nothing to do! She had been involved in almost ever craft and form of art and it fell back in love with bead work.
Every piece crafted by Marci is handcrafted. Everything from the design of the pattern to the finish work of the clasps. Now she is one of the lucky few that gets to turn her passion into a business.
Many of the orders are customized to match the client's colors and design ideas.

Jewelry that is inspiring and sure to be an attention drawer. Jewelry in art form is always awesome! I thought this jewelry looked awesome and wanted you, my loyal readers to have the opportunity to experience it.

Elitemama's Review:
I was given a wonderful opportunity to review an item from Krafty Max Originals. The piece I received is custom made and inspired by the movie, "The Lord of the Rings". Now, before I received the bracelet in the mail, Marci kept it a secret as to what the bracelet was going to look like. Not that that was a bad thing, lol. She wanted to get my reaction on the piece before sharing anything with the world. Normally Marci post pictures each day or so on her Facebook page of the steps and progress of the project she is working on to keep everyone up to date and also excited about how the creation is going to turn out.

Here is what the bracelet looks like:

Now that is a gorgeous work of art! This bracelet was inspired by the Elven Gilded jewelry worn by Galadriel and also by the EvenStar. Yes, I am a nerd and anything that is Lord of the Rings related is kept close and cherish forever! The bracelet that Marci created is outstanding and also looks very time consuming at the same time. I don't know how she manages to get pieces like this done with her kids running around, but she does, lol. Honestly, If I tried anything like this with my kids running around, I would give up... lol.

As for the bracelet, it fits snug on my wrist. Not snug where it's tight, but snug where it fits just right. The clasp at first seemed a bit odd to me because of the way it attaches from one end to another. I have never seen a clasp like the one on the bracelet before and I didn't know which way the bracelet was supposed to go. I wasn't sure if the clasp was supposed to be on the top or the bottom. Once I put the bracelet on, I figured it out right away. Yeah, I know... I'm a genius, lol.

I love the color of the beads that were used. One thing that makes the beads stand out more is when I am outside. Once the suns rays beam down on the beads, the beads sparkle and become so colorful. It's almost like trapping a gazillion rainbows in these little balls and then wearing it's colorful beauty. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it's the best way I can describe it. I am in love with this bracelet created by Krafty Max Originals!

Giveaway

One lucky reader will win a One lucky reader will win a Amethyst, Charoite & Swarovski Crystal PURE Elegance - $124.00. Open to the US and Canada. You must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway begins 5/28 and ends 6/12. Enter the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

Monday, May 27, 2013

Welcome to the Good Grillin' Giveaway

Grill or smoke your barbeque favorites with this Brinkmann Dual Function II Propane Gas and Charcoal Grill. This grill features a generous 595 sq. in. of cooking surface and two separate gas or charcoal cooking areas to accommodate a variety of food and cooking preferences. The grill's gas chamber is powered by three burners totaling 24,000 BTUs for quick cooking. The grill's charcoal chamber features an adjustable charcoal tray and adjustable smokestack. Durable, versatile, and convenient, the Brinkmann Dual Function II Propane Gas and Charcoal is a must have for any grilling experience.

One lucky reader will receive a Brinkmann Dual Function II Grill and; one winner will receive a $100 Home Depot Gift Card!

Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. ALL IN AN IOWA MOM'S DAY is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. Please contact teri@mompoweredmedia.com with questions or to see your business or blog featured on the next big event!

Friday, May 24, 2013

OK~ I am excited to share that I am a brand ambassador for the U.S. Cellular Better Moments Blogger Brigade. This is a sponsored post that I have been compensated for. The opinions expressed here are mine and nobody else's. As a long time U.S.Cellular Customer, my experiences are real.

We have been U.S. Cellular customers for several years, as it provides fantastic coverage where we live. In rural America cell phone service can often be challenging. When it comes to reliable cell phone service, U.S. Cellular responds. There has been more than one time that I have loaned my phone to a friend, who has unreliable cell phone service through another carrier, to use my U.S. Cellular phone to make a phone call. We are a family on the go, and it's of the utmost importance that we have reliable cell phone service. U.S. Cellular has provided that and is continuing to provide us with excellent service.

From unlimited texting to reliable cellular service, U.S. Cellular has kept our family connected through the years.

U.S. Cellular has a strong line-up of cutting-edge devices that are all backed by its high speed network that has the highest call quality of any national carrier.

Did you know that U.S. Cellular was named a J.D. Power and Associates Customer Service Champion in 2012 for the second year in a row? In 2013, the company also received their 15th consecutive J.D. Power and Associates' award for "Highest Network Quality Performance Among Wireless Cell Phone Users In The North Central Region."

When you switch to U.S. Cellular, you will not only have amazing cell phone service, you will also be treated as a member of the U.S. Cellular family. You can immediately enroll in the unique rewards programs that U.S. Cellular offers, as well as a unique plan that meets the needs of your family. The sales associates at U.S. Cellular are top notch and have always guided our family in the direction we have needed to go. And yes, the customer service has also been fantastic when we have misplaced or broken our cell phones. With two boys that have grown up in our house, we have had our fair share of those through the years.

I can't wait to share all of the exciting new things that U.S. Cellular has to offer throughout the next several months. Stay tuned, as I've got a lot of fun information for you. If you have been a U.S. Cellular customer, I'd love to hear about your experience. Ours has been a good one, as it has kept our family connected at all times. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

Thursday, May 23, 2013

OK~ Spring has finally sprung here and I kind of like it! We have had a lot of rain, so much, that it's time for Mother Nature to turn the faucet off. Here's what I am loving about this- look at these lilacs! They not only look pretty, but the aroma around them is truly amazing.

My mind is trying to enjoy this sight, but it keeps going back to tomorrow. Tomorrow is the last day! Tomorrow is our youngest son's last day of high school. Yep, 17 years ago, when our oldest son started Kindergarten this day seemed as though it was far, far away. Well, those 17 years flew by!

I am a proud Mom and excited for him as he ventures into the next era of his life. Here's what I will not miss about high school. I will not miss dealing with all of his stolen items. Both of our boys have had so many things stolen through the years while attending school, the list is too long to list here. I will not miss that at all!

I will miss the fantastic families that we have met through our son's involvement in high school trapshooting. This is the only high school sport either of our boys participated in, so I have nothing to compare it to. I have been told by parents of kids on the team that have had kids participate in other sports that high school trapshooting parents are very supportive.

It's a competitive spirit, but it's not a dog eat dog competition. Probably because in Iowa High School Trapshooting, everyone participates. There are no bench warmers in Iowa High School Trapshooting.

Our youngest son has had an IEP all through school. I have been an advocate for him for the past 13 years when it came to his education. I will not miss attending meeting after meeting where the same things were discussed over and over. The funny thing about all of these meetings, we always talked about the same thing, yet nobody ever took the bull by the horn and ran with the ideas that were tossed around. I'm not sure what I was looking for, but I think I was looking for a teacher to really take my son under his/her wing and help him flourish. We, as a family, never met that teacher.

So,,,,,, I'm doing the happy dance and excited for what the future holds for our soon to be high school graduate. There are no tears, just smiles! This household is so glad that there is light at the end of this tunnel. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Celebrate Father's of all kinds this Father's Day! Decked Out Dad's Day is all about Dad whether he's a traveler, a techie, the chef, or even the stay at home man!! Make Our Own Network is thrilled to bring you over $1000 in gifts for Dad. There are 6 packages worth over $145 each! I know Father's Day is an extra special time of year, and this year is no different. Take a glance at these awesome packages. There is something that every Dad would love to call his. So, make Dad's day extra special this year- enter and you may win!

"Make Our Own Network" solely organized this event and I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are 100% my own and may differ from your own or even those stated in this post. ALL IN AN IOWA MOM'S DAY is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.
**If you are a company and would like to see your brand advertised in a M.O.O.N. event similar to this please contact ldybug1682@gmail.com

Monday, May 20, 2013

OK~ Reality has hit me. Our family calendar has a graduation party on it and it is one week from today, seriously? That one week will be here before I know it. Am I stressing out, Nope (not yet). That period of time will come one hour before the party starts.

I am not stressing out over this and I've got a few tips for you. So, when you host a graduation party for your high school graduate you won't have to stress out either.

The first thing you need to do is to realize that it will happen and there is nothing you can do to change it. This is exactly why you need to decide where you will have the party. Having watched several of my friends try to host graduation parties in their garages and yards, I have opted to reserve a room at our church. I have watched other families scurry to hold everything down when the winds come up or the storm clouds move in. And then there is the issue of the restroom. Do you really want loads of people tromping through your house to use the restroom? In our case, No!

I'm also liking the idea of not having to rent tables and haul them around. The cool thing about reserving a room at our church, there are tables and oodles of them! Makes for a win-win situation all the way around.

The one thing that I am missing out on is getting new carpet, a fresh coat of paint on the walls, and of course new furniture for guests to sit on. Isn't that what people do when they host a high school graduation party in their home?

I will have plenty of time after the party to install new carpet, paint, and decide what style of furniture a Mom without a child in school needs to invest in. On the flip side, if I was hosting this high school graduation party in my home I would have reason to really, really clean. I am thinking I will have time to do all that cleaning in the days following the party, don't you think? After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

Friday, May 17, 2013

OK~ With a high school graduate in the house, I am beginning to reminisce over the past 18 summers. Dang, those were some fun times! I am envisioning how the calendar will be so different after May 24th rolls around. I will no longer have to get a kid out of bed for school each day, or worry about the next midnight homework project. I'm liking this!

The past 18 summers began with a four year old and an infant, and the boys grew up during that period of time. Man, those years flew by. We spent countless hours at the local swimming pool. I can remember laying out in the sun with other Moms, and we often talked about what we would be doing when our kids were out of school. Surprisingly, that day has arrived, and it did not take long.

There were countless walks in the park with a stroller and a dog or two. We gradually graduated to bicycles. We invested in a bicycle trailer, so our youngest could ride as the rest of us pedaled. We biked a lot of miles. One of our favorite bicycle trails is the Sparta Trail located in Sparta, Wisconsin. I highly recommend it if you have never experienced it. The rolling hills are beautiful and the long, dark tunnels add a little twist to what you would normally think of a bicycle trail.

We camped, as a family, a lot. I quickly learned that boys, no matter what age, love fire! Yep, we had a few burns through the years, burnt marshmallows and a lot of s'mores. And if I were to do it all over again, we'd still have a fire and we would probably still have burns.

We spent many summers hiking. Our youngest started out in a pack on my hubby's back. Through the next 17 summers we all hiked and we climbed a lot of mountains. We ventured through Rocky Mountain National Park, Glacier National Park (U.S. and Canada), Yellowstone National Park, and the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota.

There were Cub Scout Camps, Day Cub Scout Camps, Boy Scout Camps, and Church Camps. There was always an event coming up. And yep, this Mom went on 99.9% of these campouts.

So---- Our youngest son is now graduating from high school. What will I do with all of my time? Hey, I am looking forward to focusing on my writing, speaking engagements, and teaching more local classes in social media. High School Graduation time brings a feeling of mixed emotions and this Mom is relieved and excited!

I am excited about the new opportunities that lie ahead for our youngest son. He is a responsible young man and has worked hard to graduate from high school. Will I miss school conferences? NO Will I miss PTO Meetings? NO Will I miss out on the first day of school once August 2013 rolls around? NO. I am thankful for Iowa high school trapshooting, as he found a sport he could excel in.

This Mom is ready to move on. It's a new era of my life and I am excited! My life will no longer revolve around the school calendar- yippee! I am thinking back to the first day of Kindergarten for our youngest and I was the only Mom that was doing a happy dance that he was now in school. The other Moms were all crying. I still don't get that concept, but most Moms probably didn't understand my happy dance either. I have done my job- our youngest is officially an adult (he turned 18 on Monday) and he is graduating from high school and this Mom is happy! After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

Monday, May 13, 2013

OK~ I knew this day would come. I am not sure if I should be happy or sad. I am choosing to be happy. Our baby is 18 today! Hard to believe. Where on earth did all of those years go? Well, I started digging around this morning~ Here's where a lot of them went!

Fishing in many locations! Clear Lake, Iowa and Rocky Mountain National Park were two favorite fishing holes.

Golfing with Dad several times!

Several family vacations to Walt Disney World!

And look where we are today~ Hunting, Trapshooting, and a dog named Wally!

I can recall when our boys were 2 and 6. I thought to myself, someday they will be 5 & 9 and 11 & 15 and bam- they are now 18 & 22! Wow! What a fun ride it has been.

This Mom is blessed with a hubby of 26 years and two awesome young men! After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

Sunday, May 12, 2013

OK~ I recently had the opportunity to review the new V05 Salon Series products and I was pleasantly surprised. The following appeared on my doorstep and the fun began. The opinions expressed here are mine and nobody else's. I was given these products for review purposes.

I was sent the following products for review:

ColorShield+ Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner

Anti-Frizz And Shine Styling Creme

Perfect Hold (Non-Aerosol Hair Spray)

Simply Stunning Leave In Conditioner

The Color Shield + Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner were just what I had needed. Springtime is very windy here in Iowa and this has been a fantastic product. My hair color looks great and the color seems to have a little added shine. Maybe my imagination, but it looks pretty good. After spending hours outside at high school trapshooting events in very windy conditions, the shampoo and conditioner made my hair manageable again!

The Anti-Frizz And Shine Styling Creme smells really nice and goes on smooth. I have been putting this on my hair once it is dry and then styling it. The directions state this can be used on dry or wet hair. I don't usually blow dry my hair, it usually air dries, so the versatility makes this product even more user friendly.

Five fantastic products that will leave your hair feeling silky smooth. The V05 Salon series is available at many of your local drug stores, including Walgreens and CVS, along with several more. KMart and Target also offer this fine, affordable line of hair care products, as well.

For up to date information on The V05 Salon Series be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.

Enter through the Rafflecopter form below and you could find the above products in your shower. Life gets pretty crazy and when you can have affordable, easy to use hair care products, life gets just a little easier. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

On a note: Open to U.S. residents only and must have a mailing address, no P.O. boxes.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

OK~ I recently had the opportunity to review Dani Schnakenberg's blog planner and let me tell you, this blog planner is amazing! If you are a blogger, this is a must. Calendars, guest post logs, income and expense trackers, and everything else that you; as a blogger have been searching for. Dani has done a fantastic job getting this information into one convenient place. I was given an electronic blog planner to review and the opinions expressed here are mine and nobody else's. I also need to let you know that this post does contain affiliate links.

If you struggle with keeping your blog fresh with ideas, this blog planner offers a fantastic solution. There is a specific section dedicated to post and series planning. So, if you are out and about and have that great post idea~ write it down!

Reviews and giveaways are also addressed and it is very simple to use!

Everything is laid out in simple terms, making this blog planner ideal for the beginner or seasoned blogger. With so many ideas, posts, and ideas to share, Dani's blog planner offers what many of us bloggers have been searching for.

So, the next time you are struggling to figure out how many miles you traveled last month, order Dani's blog planner so you don't find yourself in that situation again. When you use Dani's planner, your life as a blogger will be much easier. You will literally have everything you need in one spot!

I wish I could say this planner will do it all for you, but I cannot. Yes, you will need to get out a pen! I can tell you that this blog planner supplies you with a valuable tool that will help you be more successful. It is up to you to document your numbers on a regular basis, and the cool part is the fact that it will all be in one handy place!

I would highly recommend Dani's blog planner for any blogger out there. We are all trying to keep on top of our social media channels, while experiencing life so we have things to share on our blogs. If you know a blogger that needs a little help in the organization department, I would suggest forwarding this information on to them. This is a must! Go ahead, invest in Dani's blog planner today, as you will be glad you did!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

I recently had the opportunity to review a beautiful bracelet from NOVICA. Having never heard of this company until recently, I was pleasantly surprised. (Disclosure: I did receive a bracelet for review purposes and the opinions expressed here are mine alone).

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and NOVICA has solutions that your Mom is guaranteed to appreciate. With a large gifts for him section, your Dad will wonder how you got so creative this year when it comes to Father's Day in June.

The bracelet that I ordered is simply beautiful. I have received compliment after compliment while wearing this. A Thank You card was also included from Bali-Java. If you like bracelets as much as I do, you will find several that you adore! I must add that this bracelet looked stunning online, and even more so in actual view.

The clasp on this bracelet is ideal for Mom's on the go! I have been on the go for a week while wearing this beautiful bracelet and it has yet to slip off.

I cannot begin to tell you how many bracelets I have had through the years that have decided to slip off of my wrist, so this one is a win-win! From gem stones to floral themed bracelets, there is a bracelet waiting to call your wrist its home. Bracelets like the one above would make a great confirmation gift or even a graduation gift. The NOVICA website will inspire you and make your shopping extremely easy.

The NOVICA website is extremely user friendly. Products can be broken down by artists, price, style, themes, and even materials.

Be sure to connect with NOVICA on Facebook and Twitter for more up to date information on products to inspire you and others.

Thank you to NOVICA for inviting me to experience their beautiful products!

Sunday, May 5, 2013

OK~ May is a crazy time of year for many families with college aged kids. Often times they have to relocate over the summer months and the circus of moving continues. As a Mom of a 22 year old, there have been many moves. The most memorable one was the "attic" room- yep, three large flights of stairs a couple years ago.

Fast forward a few moves and a place that is called home. Now the moving consists of helping load and reload new furniture. And, of course, there will be major moves along the way. We are grateful that we are able to assist in all this craziness. This was a smooth move of a new mattress and box spring. With only a few steps, this was an easy move. Oh yeah, and he's quite the shopper. He found a new mattress and box spring regularly priced at $2200 and snagged the set for $350!

When our kids are born we think about their nursery and then we decorate their little "kids" room. Let's see, we had Mickey Mouse, Barney, and Winnie The Pooh through the years. Now he is on his own, embracing his own space. The years seriously do fly by and if anyone tells you differently, ummmm- I'd ask them to please repeat that!

How many times have you moved your teen or young adult? Was the process easy or simple? The thought of moving and relocating is exhausting in itself. Our young adults are lucky when they have family around to help them in the midst of all the chaos. With a soon to be high school graduate, I have a feeling our moving days with our young adults is just beginning! Thinking back now- the moves out of the nursery into the "big boy" bed were a lot simpler. After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

Friday, May 3, 2013

I'm excited to share this Giveaway with you and give you the opportunity to win $200. Register today and you may find yourself with $200 in your pocket!

Erica Start Walking has reached 1,000 Facebook Fans and in return she has decided to giveaway $200 in PayPal cash to one lucky winner. Giveaway will be open May 3, 2013 to June 3, 2013. One winner will be chosen and e-mailed directly by Erica when giveaway is over. This giveaway is open world wide. Winner must be 18 years of age to win.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

OK~ The calendar says May 2nd and I am looking out my window to a foot of snow. I am trying to come to grasp with it. Seriously, within the past 24 hours these buds popped out.

Winter took a while to arrive and wow- when Winter arrived this year it seriously does not want to leave. April went down in history as the wettest April since the record books have been kept in the state of Iowa. No surprises there, as it sure seemed to rain a lot.

Our son shoots high school trapshooting and he has had more practices cancelled due to weather than years in the past. The kids shoot in the rain, but they do not shoot when the trap houses are iced shut. Yup, we had that happen this year.

You know if this was December this would really be welcome, but May 2nd? Makes me wonder what type of summer season we will have in Iowa. Last year we mowed our lawn two times, yep- two times and it turned brown. We mowed a small section of our yard on Tuesday of this week. In the 26 years we have been married, we have never mowed our lawn in the Spring and then had a foot of snow! Let alone, an inch of snow in May.

I am still trying to wrap my brain around this crazy weather scenario, as May should be a lot warmer. We have 30 degree temperatures, snow on the ground, and long underwear out of storage. Not sure when we can safely pack all of that away in 2013. So much for breaking out the spring clothes, I fear we will go right to summer and have heat that is astounding.

And to top it all off, our son has a little more than two weeks left of his final year of high school and today was a snow day. Yep, a snow day in May!

For now, I guess I will kick back with a cup of hot chocolate and hang out near the fireplace. Yes, this is May in Iowa. I hope your Spring has been a little nicer than ours has been, someone must have one; it's sure not here! After All, It's All In a Mom's Day, Right?

About Me

I am an avid blogger~ Travel With Sara and All In An Iowa Mom's Day~ travel writer, speaker, and social media account manager.But most of all I have a wonderful husband of 27 years and two boys ages 23 & 18...